SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL I (2026 - 2027 School Year)

Lucia Mar Unified School District; Arroyo Grande (CA); On-site; USD 27,083 - 36,368; Full time

Job summary

Lucia Mar Unified School District is hiring a Special Education Paraprofessional I. The position supports students with disabilities across settings, using lesson materials and individualized instruction under educator supervision.

The role requires a high school diploma, basic competency testing, and ability to work with diverse learners. The district emphasizes equal opportunity employment and compliance with civil rights protections.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or its equivalent.
• Passing basic high school competency test.
• Ability to relate effectively with students who have special needs including developmental delays, specific learning disabilities, and various emotional and physical disabilities/health needs.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, establish and maintain cooperative relationships, work calmly under pressure, work with frequent interruptions, understand and follow oral and written directions, and speak and write effectively.

Responsibilities

• Use and adapt teacher-prepared lesson plans, instruct students, individually or in groups, in prescribed subject matter.
• Monitor school-related student activities as assigned under the guidance and direction of an administrative staff member.
• Support teacher(s) in clerical duties such as photocopying and recordkeeping, as assigned. Operate audiovisual equipment and computers to support student learning and communication.
• Implement academic instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the special education classroom teacher to individual or small groups of students in reading, written language, mathematics, science and social sciences. Assist instruction in social/emotional, fine and gross motor and language and communication skills.
• Assist with the implementation of communication and social skills programs.
• Assist students with the use of adaptive devices and equipment.
• Implement physical education instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the physical education teacher.
• Assist in carrying out behavior programs and assist teacher with classroom management. Implement differential reinforcement programs.

Skills

Spanish language

Driver license

Relationship building

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Special Education Paraprofessional I

Site(s) to be determined

School year, 6.0 hours/day, time(s) to be determined

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or its equivalent.
• See job description for additional requirements.

SALARY: Ranges 16 & 18, salary placement from $19.66 - $26.40 hourly

Salary Prorated Based On Start Date And Prior Experience.

• Classified Salary Schedule

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Continuous

Applicants who do not possess a college degree or passed CBEST are required to take our Instructional Assistant examination, date(s) to be determined.

The provisions of this Notice of Vacancy do not constitute a contract expressed or implied and any of the provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.

The Lucia Mar Unified School District prohibits unlawful discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sex-based harassment) or bullying based on a person's actual or perceived race; color; ancestry; nationality; national origin; immigration status; ethnic group identification; ethnicity; age; religion; pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation, including related medical conditions and recovery; parental, family, or marital status; reproductive health decision making; physical or mental disability, medical condition; sex; sex stereotypes; sex characteristics; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity; gender expression; veteran or military status, or genetic information; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, contact Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator: Jennifer Handy, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at 602 Orchard Street, Arroyo Grande, California, 93420. Phone: [phone] ext. 1190 Email: [e-mail]

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

LUCIA MAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSIFIED

Job Description

HUMAN RESOURCES JOB DESCRIPTION

REVISED DATE: March 21, 2023

TITLE: SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL I

SALARY RANGE: 16 None or a limited number of units OR completion of 15 semester units of a varied academic program OR completion of 30 semester units of a varied academic program, 15 of which must be education courses or related subjects. 18 An AA Degree (60 semester units or more, 30 of which must be education courses or related subjects) or 60 units of education courses.

Description

Assist students with disabilities who are receiving special education services by performing instructional assistant duties including modality-based academic instruction, physical education instruction, social skills instruction, behavioral modification and management, preparation of instructional materials, clerical tasks, supervision and related duties as assigned. The position may serve in a general education classroom, resource program (RSP), less intensive special day class (SDC) classes for the emotionally disturbed, and/or as a special circumstances one-to-one paraprofessional that may involve moderate behavioral challenges.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• High school graduation or its equivalent.
• Passing basic high school competency test.
• Ability to relate effectively with students who have special needs including developmental delays, specific learning disabilities, and various emotional and physical disabilities/health needs.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, establish and maintain cooperative relationships, work calmly under pressure, work with frequent interruptions, understand and follow oral and written directions, and speak and write effectively.

Desirable

• Experience in youth activities.
• Knowledge and understanding of developmental stages of special needs students.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish.
• Valid California driver license.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Use and adapt teacher-prepared lesson plans, instruct students, individually or in groups, in prescribed subject matter.
• Monitor school-related student activities as assigned under the guidance and direction of an administrative staff member.
• Support teacher(s) in clerical duties such as photocopying and recordkeeping, as assigned. Operate audiovisual equipment and computers to support student learning and communication.
• Implement academic instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the special education classroom teacher to individual or small groups of students in reading, written language, mathematics, science and social sciences. Assist instruction in social/emotional, fine and gross motor and language and communication skills.
• Assist with the implementation of communication and social skills programs.
• Assist students with the use of adaptive devices and equipment.
• Implement physical education instruction under the direct and indirect supervision of the physical education teacher.
• Assist in carrying out behavior programs and assist teacher with classroom management. Implement differential reinforcement programs. On occasion, may need to partner in de-escalating potentially violent situations involving students who demonstrate aggressive, defiant behaviors.
• Collect and record data in order to monitor student's progress. Maintain confidentiality of student information.
• Attend and participate in staff, professional development and team planning meetings as required. Attend behavior intervention training as required.
• Some assignments include specialized health care procedures including, but not limited to, gastronomy tube feeding, tracheostomy suctioning, blood glucose monitoring, nebulizer treatment, catheterization, ostomy procedures, oxygen administration, diapering and toileting.
• Perform other duties as reasonably related to classification.

Hazards

• Potential for contact with blood and other body fluids, which may contain bloodborne pathogens and communicable infectious diseases.
• Potential exposure to verbal abuse and aggressive student behaviors (hitting, biting, scratching, kicking, etc.)

Essential Job Functions

PHYSICAL:

Employee in this position must have the ability to:

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to stand and circulate for extended periods of time
• Ability to see and read, with or without vision aids.
• Ability to hear and understand speech at normal and abnormal levels.
• Ability to communicate so others will clearly understand normal conversation.
• Ability to bend, twist, kneel and stoop.
• Physical ability to pull 75 pounds.
• Physical ability to position a student who may weigh 150 pounds or more, to conduct two-person lifts, and to manipulate wheelchairs and orthopedic devices such as lifts, slings, etc.

MENTAL:

Employee in this position must have the ability to:

• Able to concentrate on a single task for up to two (2) hours at a time.
• Able to learn quickly and adapt to a variety of machinery, instructions, and task methods.
• Able to meet deadlines in terms of work assignment schedules.

SOCIAL:

Employee in this position must have the ability to:

• Interact daily in person with other members of the school staff and possess comfortable interpersonal skills and positive cooperative attitudes.
• Because of the time urgent nature of duties and because work product of position is interdependent with that of other staff, consistent attendance is required.
• Convey an understanding, patient attitude toward students, parents, staff and community.
• Maintain the privacy of confidential information.

NOTE: This list of essential functions and of physical requirements is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary in accordance with the requirements of the job.

SUPERVISION

Under the supervision of the Director of Special Education, the Coordinator of Special Education and/or Designee.

Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter: This position is designated as a Mandated Reporter. The Special Education Paraprofessional I shall report in accordance with California state regulations who observe, have actual knowledge, or reasonably suspect child or elder/dependent abuse or neglect to appropriate agencies.

CANDIDATE SELECTION: The candidate selected for this position will be required to present prior to the first date of employment: 1) a social security card; 2) proof of tuberculin test; 3) pass state and federal fingerprint clearances; and 4) complete all pre-employment training including but not limited to Child Abuse Reporting and Sexual Harassment/Abusive Conduct.

The Lucia Mar Unified School District Board of Education prohibits discrimination of job applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, mental condition, veteran status, gender, and the actual or perceived sexual orientation.

ALL MATERIALS ARCHIVED FOR THIS POSITION ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE LUCIA MAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MAY BE REVIEWED BY BUT CANNOT BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER